Sports teams as multiteam systems
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Valerie Sessa
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 1:30 PM
End Date
25-4-2025 2:29 PM
Description
The present study examines sports teams through the lens of multiteam systems (MTS) to determine the extent to which they meet the defining characteristics of MTSs. MTSs are composed of distinct component teams that interact interdependently to achieve a shared hierarchy of goals. While prior research has established MTSs in contexts such as emergency response and military operations, the classification of sports teams within this framework remains underexplored. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, including surveys of athletes and interviews with coaches across 16 men’s and women’s varsity teams at NCAA Division II and III Universities. Key variables include the presence of identifiable component teams, the nature of intra- and inter-team interdependence, and the structure of goal hierarchies. Athlete self-identification with component teams versus the broader team will be assessed, as will patterns of collaboration required to achieve team objectives. By systematically applying MTS criteria to sports teams, this study seeks to clarify the extent to which various sports inherently function as MTSs, providing implications for team management, performance optimization, and organizational psychology. The findings will have implications for both the sport performance, as well as the organizational psychology literature by addressing the boundary conditions of MTS classification within an athletic context.
Sports teams as multiteam systems
The present study examines sports teams through the lens of multiteam systems (MTS) to determine the extent to which they meet the defining characteristics of MTSs. MTSs are composed of distinct component teams that interact interdependently to achieve a shared hierarchy of goals. While prior research has established MTSs in contexts such as emergency response and military operations, the classification of sports teams within this framework remains underexplored. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, including surveys of athletes and interviews with coaches across 16 men’s and women’s varsity teams at NCAA Division II and III Universities. Key variables include the presence of identifiable component teams, the nature of intra- and inter-team interdependence, and the structure of goal hierarchies. Athlete self-identification with component teams versus the broader team will be assessed, as will patterns of collaboration required to achieve team objectives. By systematically applying MTS criteria to sports teams, this study seeks to clarify the extent to which various sports inherently function as MTSs, providing implications for team management, performance optimization, and organizational psychology. The findings will have implications for both the sport performance, as well as the organizational psychology literature by addressing the boundary conditions of MTS classification within an athletic context.
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.